Updated Review on the Role of Curcumin in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Malignant conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs of digestion, including the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, biliary system, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus, are referred to as gastrointestinal cancers. Curcumin is a natural compound derived from turmeric with a wide range of biological activities. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the effects of curcumin on gastrointestinal cancers. In the current review, we aimed to provide an updated summary on the recent findings regarding the beneficial effects of curcumin on different gastrointestinal cancers in the recent decade. For this purpose, ScienceDirect," "Google Scholar," "PubMed," "ISI Web of Knowledge," and "Wiley Online Library" databases were searched using "curcumin", "cancer", and "gastrointestinal organs" as keywords. In vitro studies performed on different gastrointestinal cancerous cell lines have shown that curcumin can inhibit cell growth through cycle arrest at the G2/M and G1 phases, as well as stimulated apoptosis and autophagy by interacting with multiple molecular targets. In vivo studies performed in various animal models have confirmed mainly the chemopreventive effects of curcumin. Several nano-formulations have been proposed to improve the bioavailability of curcumin and increase its absorption. Moreover, curcumin has been used in combinations with many anti-tumor drugs to increase their anticarcinogenic properties. Taken together, curcumin falls within the category of plant-derived substances capable of preventing or treating gastrointestinal cancers. Further studies, particularly clinical trials, on the efficacy and safety of curcumin are suggested in this regard.